Id rather die than marry Jiang Fan!
Xu Yining gripped a three-foot azure sword and held it to her neck, tears of grievance sliding down her cheeks one by one.
The many clansmen in the hall were thrown into chaos!
Yining, dont do anything rash! Its Fathers fault. Father shouldnt have forced you.
Xu Zhengyan was so frightened his heart leapt into his throat. He tried hard to soothe her: Ten years ago, Jiang Fans father saved our old masters life. Out of gratitude, the old master promised that the two of you would marry when you turned eighteen.
If you break the engagement, people will say youre ungrateful!
Now that youve finally been chosen by the Azure Cloud Sect and are internally designated as a true disciple, if the Azure Cloud Sect learns of this and some elder takes offense, your qualification as a true disciple will be revoked!
Xu Yinings expression shifted. She stamped her foot and said, I dont care!
I wont marry Jiang Fan, and I cant lose my reputation either. Father, think of a way for me!
Xu Zhengyans head ached terribly, and his eyes unconsciously flicked toward Jiang Fan in the corner.
He was handsome, tall and slender, with calm eyes that held a wise light. He possessed a graceful, unperturbed aira youth with an excellent appearance.
Unfortunately, he was mute.
And a mute who, after multiple tests, had no spiritual root.
His daughter, on the other hand, was a shocking prodigy with a sixth-grade spiritual root. She had received the favor of an elder of the Azure Cloud Sect, who was preparing to take her as a true disciple.
Her future was boundless.
One of them was in the heavens, the other on the earth. They were simply not people of the same world.
Husband, if theres truly no other way, let Youran marry in Yinings place.
His wife, Wang Yingfeng, who was standing at his side, sighed helplessly.
The Xu clansmens gazes all shot toward Xu Youran at the back of the crowd.
She was a young girl in green, with a graceful figure and a tranquil temperament.
Her beauty was devastating, making it impossible to look away.
As the elder sister, she was far prettier than her younger sister, Xu Yining!
Unfortunately, she had been born of a concubine, and her status in the Xu family was far inferior to Xu Yinings.
Wang Yingfeng wanted Xu Youran to take her own daughters place and marry a mute, making many people in the Xu family unable to bear watching.
For a great beauty like Xu Youran to marry a mute like Jiang Fan would ruin her entire life.
Father, I still want to stay by your side and serve you. Please dont marry me off.
Hearing this, all color instantly drained from Xu Yourans face.
She bit her red lips tightly and pleaded helplessly.
But Xu Zhengyan ignored her gaze. He stepped forward, gripped her shoulders, and said earnestly, Youran, our Xu family has been in decline for a hundred years. It wasnt easy for us to finally produce a genius like your younger sister. The Xu familys future rests entirely on her!
Consider it Father begging you. Marry Jiang Fan in your sisters place!
Seeing that she was still hesitating, Xu Zhengyan gritted his teeth and bent his knees. Do you want Father to kneel and beg you?
Xu Youran was startled and hurriedly helped him up, saying anxiously, Father, dont do this.
Ill marry him. Ill marry him, all right?
The instant she agreed, her eyes were filled with grievance.
Only then did Xu Zhengyan straighten up, and the stone that had hung in his chest for many years was finally set down.
He revealed a faint smile of relief and looked toward Jiang Fan. Little Fan, what do you think?
Jiang Fan sat calmly in the corner, unhurriedly sipping tea.
Hearing this, he raised his eyes.
He glanced at Xu Youran, who had lowered her head in silence, tears glimmering in her eyes, and sighed inwardly.
How pitiful. Her family joined hands to scheme against her.
The Xu family had never intended to marry the proud daughter of heaven, Xu Yining, to Jiang Fan.
Instead, they had planned early on to make Xu Youran the sacrifice.
From Xu Yining threatening death, to Wang Yingfeng proposing a substitute bride, to Xu Zhengyan playing the family-affection card, all of it had been arranged by them in advance.
Xu Youran was innocent and kind, and had easily fallen for it, agreeing to marry in anothers place.
How could Jiang Fan bear to hurt such a pitiful girl?
He picked up the paper and brush he carried with him and wrote a note.
Uncle, there is no need to make things difficult for Youran. The Xu residence has taken care of me for ten years, which has already offset my fathers life-saving kindness from back then.
As for the engagement, let it be canceled today.
Even if not for Xu Youran, Jiang Fan had intended to dissolve the engagement.
Ever since he and his father had saved the old master of the Xu family ten years ago, they had been living in the Xu residence.
After his father passed away three years ago, once the person was gone, the warmth of favor cooled. Everyone in the Xu family gradually became distant toward him.
Jiang Fan understood that the Xu familys patience had already been worn away.
If they had not been worried that breaking the engagement would affect their reputation, they would have driven Jiang Fan out of the Xu residence long ago.
Now, it was time for him to leave.
After reading his words, Xu Zhengyan was secretly excited.
As long as Jiang Fan remained in the Xu family for even a single day, he reminded Xu Zhengyan that the Xu residence owed Jiang Fan and his father an enormous debt of gratitude!
Day after day, year after year, Xu Zhengyan felt it like a fishbone lodged in his throat, yet there was nothing he could do.
Now that Jiang Fan wanted to leave, it was simply wonderful news!
Unexpectedly, Wang Yingfeng spoke with sincere words. Little Fan, how can that do?
The engagement was set by the old master. How would we dare go against his wishes?
If he returns from his travels and finds that we didnt fulfill the agreement, your uncle and I will be in serious trouble.
If youre truly grateful for the Xu residence taking care of you for these ten years, then marry Youran. From now on, well all be one family.
Some of the shrewder clansmen saw Wang Yingfengs true purpose.
She wanted to marry Xu Youran to the mute Jiang Fan, ruining Xu Yourans lifelong happiness and clearing away a threat for her own daughter, Xu Yining.
Xu Youran had an outstanding temperament and peerless beauty. She was a famous great beauty throughout the region.
Many sons of great families lusted after her.
If she married into a powerful household, or became the wife or concubine of some strong expert, she would undoubtedly become Xu Yinings rival.
Now, by marrying her to Jiang Fan, a useless man without even a spiritual root, the hidden danger would be completely eliminated.
How vicious.
Jiang Fan saw everything clearly. Looking at Xu Youran, who was silently shedding tears, he sighed helplessly and thought to himself, Even if I help her this once today, after I leave, she still wont be able to escape Wang Yingfengs poisonous hands.
At that time, her end may be even worse than marrying a mute.
All these years, Xu Youran had been the only person who treated him kindly.
The year his father passed away, he had fallen seriously ill from excessive grief and lay in bed for seven days and seven nights.
The Xu family had turned a blind eye. It was Xu Youran who tirelessly took care of him for seven days, allowing him to survive that ordeal.
He truly could not bear to leave this pure, kindhearted young woman behind to fend for herself in the Xu familys pit of fire.
After pondering again and again, he helplessly lifted his brush and wrote one word to Wang Yingfeng.
Fine!
Wang Yingfeng revealed a smile and said warmly, Youran, quickly take Jiang Fan to have clothes measured. In one month, the two of you will be married.
She could not wait for them to marry, lest more complications arise from delay.
Xu Youran wiped her tears and came before Jiang Fan with red, swollen eyes. Come with me. I also happen to have something to say to you.